Today’s teens are just as stressed as their parents. Stress in teens can lead to various health issues and no matter the circumstances, stress needs to be taken seriously so it can be handled in a healthy way.

Teens can get stressed by a number of things, including activities they’re excited about. It can be anything from academics or their part-time job to relationships and even beloved extracurricular activities. 

Looking for changes in their behavior and listening to their concerns can help tip off parents to a higher stress level. Believe it or not, teens tend to trust their parents and value their relationship and support.

Is there a way to tell when a teen is overwhelmed by stress? What should parents ask teens and when should they be concerned?

Get detailed information and tips in Episode 77, where Dr. G and his guest, Merigan Neben, examine ways parents can identify stress in teens and talk about practical strategies to help them manage it.

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Guest

Merigan Neben – Assistant principal of student services, Naperville Central High School.

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The human spine is more complex than you may realize, including a layered terrain of bone, discs, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other tissues.

Spine surgery has been around for more than 100 years. It’s safe to say that today’s spine surgery is vastly different from the early days, even from techniques in use 20 years ago.

In fact, spine surgery has become common, with about 1.6 million spine surgeries done each year in the United States. Even so, facing the possibility of spine surgery can be scary, and there are several myths about spine surgery that can affect people’s decisions. But the goal of spine surgery is to restore function and quality of life.

What makes a spine surgeon cringe? What’s the best way to keep your spine in good condition? How much does bad posture affect your spine?

Find out in Episode 75, where Dr. G and his guest, Jimmy Zhu, MD, discuss technological advancements in spine surgery, reasons someone would need surgery and answer FAQs.

 

Guest

Jimmy Zhu, MD – Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group, Edward-Elmhurst Health.

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It feels weird to think about planning what will happen at the end of your life.

But when you get past those natural feelings, it makes perfect sense. 

Creating an end-of-life plan while you’re still able-bodied ensures you have control over what happens to you and it eliminates the stress those decisions would create for your family.

Most people haven’t talked about their own death or dying with anyone. But it’s never too early to talk about it with your loved ones, to share your concerns, fears and what’s important to you.

How early should people begin having discussions about end-of-life care? What is palliative care and how is it different than hospice care?

In Episode 74, Dr. G and his guest, Michael Sigman, MD, discuss why it’s important to plan the end of life and how to go about it.

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Guest

Michael Sigman, MD – Board-certified hospice and palliative care physician; medical director of palliative services at Elmhurst Hospital, Edward-Elmhurst Health. 

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Mental health challenges, just like physical health challenges, affect everyone.

Mental health problems are more common than heart disease, lung disease and cancer combined. And they’re often underdiagnosed, mismanaged, or worse, ignored.

When it comes to athletes, there’s pressure to be strong, push through pain, pull through for their teams and to win. Mental health often takes a back seat.

Depression and anxiety are common disorders, yet the stigma about mental health prevents people from talking about it or seeking help.

In Episode 73, Dr. G and his guest, Stephanie Aylward, PhD, discuss why mental health is important for athletes (and everyone) and what athletes can do to stay healthy.

 

Guest

Stephanie Aylward, PhD – Clinical neuropsychologist at NorthShore Comprehensive Concussion Clinics, NorthShore University HealthSystem.

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When it comes to groundbreaking new technology, the field of cardiology has always seemed to be at the forefront.

The fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States is one of the reasons technology companies continue to invest billions into research and development of what may be some of the most influential game changers the healthcare industry has ever seen.

A smartwatch can collect heart data. Monitors can be implanted to collect heart failure symptoms and alert a patient’s physician of a cardiac event. And those examples are just the tip of the iceberg. 

This is good news for people with heart disease, as there are many treatment options for conditions that previously had less promising prognoses. The tech also allows physicians to catch and treat conditions earlier, which leads to better outcomes and fewer hospitalizations.

In Episode 72, Dr. G and his guest, Kousik Krishnan, MD, discuss breakthroughs in heart technology and what it means for patients.

 

Guest

Kousik Krishnan, MD - Double board-certified cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist, Midwest Cardiovascular Institute.

 

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Weight is a sensitive topic for everyone, and kids and teens are especially aware of the stigma that can come with carrying extra pounds.

Childhood obesity is common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, between 2017-2020, the prevalence of obesity among kids and adolescents ages 2 to 19 was 19.7 percent, affecting about 14.7 million people. 

What causes it? Nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle choices fuel chronic disease, including obesity. Genetics can play a role as well.

Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in America. When should parents be concerned about their child’s weight, and what can they do if their child is obese?

In Episode 71, Dr. G and his guest, Jenny Hasler, MD, IBCLC, discuss how to help children achieve a healthy weight, including how parents can address their child’s health without judgement or shame.

 

Guest

Jenny Hasler, MD, IBCLC – Board-certified pediatrician and international board-certified lactation consultant, Swedish Medical Group Pediatrics.

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When it comes to stroke, “time is brain.” You’ve probably heard that before. But what does that mean?

Stroke is a medical emergency that requires treatment as soon as possible. The sooner someone receives treatment, the more likely they are to avoid catastrophic injury or death.When stroke symptoms are identified, quick action can literally save someone’s brain.

Every 40 seconds someone in America has a stroke, and every three and a half minutes, someone dies from stroke. 

Stroke is the leading cause of serious disability among adults and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.

High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are all factors that increase your risk for stroke. Stroke is 80 percent preventable and is usually a result of other chronic medical conditions. If you can treat those early, you’re less likely to have a stroke.

Getting back to the “time is brain” idea, it’s important to know how to recognize the signs that someone is having a stroke. Do you know the symptoms? You will after you listen to this episode.

In Episode 70, Dr. G and his guest, Matthew McCoyd, MD, discuss how to recognize the signs of stroke, how stroke is treated and ways to prevent one.

 

Guest

Matthew McCoyd, MD – Board-certified neurologist, associate professor and residency program director, neurology, Loyola Medicine.

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The human-pet bond is truly remarkable. Pets make us laugh and they make us feel loved. Animals can brighten your life and provide enduring friendship and emotional support.

Humans and animals can form a bond that’s essential to the health and well-being of both. Studies show pet ownership can help prevent heart disease. Many healthcare organizations have therapy dogs brought in regularly to visit with patients.

Companionship is one of the main reasons people get pets. Beyond that, caring for an animal gives us purpose and can provide numerous health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and easing stress.

In Episode 69, Dr. G and his guests, veterinarian Jeni Waeltz, DVM, CPC, and Cynthia Brooks, administrator of Animal-Assisted Therapy at Edward-Elmhurst Health, discuss the ways pets can improve our mental and physical health.

Guests:

Jeni Waeltz, DVM, CPC – Owner, veterinarian and coach at The Welcome Waggin.

Cynthia Brooks – Program administrator of Animal-Assisted Therapy at Edward-Elmhurst Health; Supervisor of volunteer services at Edward Hospital and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.

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The process of making art can result in a lot more than just a finished product to display on a shelf.

Given the proliferation of adult coloring books and DIY painting studios, it seems some folks have figured this out. Does spending time making art really improve our mental state? Taking it a step further, can artistic activities help heal mental health conditions?

Creative arts therapy offers engaging ways to boost awareness of the arts and promote healing. It can help increase our awareness of ourselves and others, help us cope with stress and trauma, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasure of making art.

Creative arts therapy combines psychotherapy with art-based activities, including music and drama, to help treat mental health conditions. Creative arts therapists use art to help everyone, including kids and adults, hospitalized people, veterans and families or couples.

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, artistically inclined or not. Anyone can participate in and benefit from creative arts therapy. Music and creativity are inherent parts of the human experience.

Sound interesting? This episode is for you.

In Episode 68, Dr. G and his guests, music therapist Sarah Clewett and art therapist Valerie Maty, discuss how creative arts therapy is used not only to treat mental health but also how everyone can use art to improve their own well-being.

Guest

Sarah Clewett, MA, MT-BC - Master of arts in music therapy and a board-certified music therapist at the Institute for Therapy Through the Arts; Classically trained oboist and musician.

Valerie Maty, DAT, ATR-BC, LCPC, SEP, RPT, CADC - Doctorate in art therapy, board-certified art therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor, somatic experiencing practitioner, registered play therapist and certified alcohol and drug counselor at Labyrinth Counseling Center.

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Healthcare is a basic human right. We all deserve to be able to function at our best, to take care of ourselves and our families.

In an ideal world, everyone would have equitable access to universal health services. 

Unfortunately, health disparities exist everywhere, in all communities. In fact, if you’re not seeing health disparities, you’re not looking. 

Why should everyone care about health equity? 

Addressing health equity benefits all of us. Health disparities costs the country billions of dollars on an annual basis. Every individual in our society has a role to play in addressing health disparities, and we can all do better at understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds, values and beliefs of others.

In Episode 67, Dr. G and his guests, Hiral Patel, DC, and Karen Ayala, executive director of the DuPage County Health Department, discuss why health equity matters to everyone and how healthcare organizations can address it.

 

Guest

Hiral Patel, DC – System Director of Innovation, Activation, & Enablement at NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health; Co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Edward-Elmhurst Health.

Karen Ayala – Executive Director at the DuPage County Health Department. 

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